Harem Daily Life

Chapter 1083 The Zhou Family Comes to Propose Marriage

Hua Ruyan caused trouble on her first day back in the capital. Zhou Chen was furious. Not long after returning to the Zhou family, she went out to have fun with her friends. She stayed at Zuichunlou for three days before being kidnapped by Madam Zhou.

Hua's parents sat in the front hall of the Zhou family home, their faces showing displeasure at Zhou Chen's dissolute behavior.

"We agreed that if we married our daughter to your Zhou family as a concubine, you would treat her with the respect due to a principal wife. But look at Zhou Chen's behavior. Is this how you treat Ruyan?"

When Hua's mother spoke, her voice was quite cold. Zhou's mother stepped forward and could only give her son a few symbolic reprimands as a small punishment to appease Hua's mother.

"Don't be angry, in-law. If you are, you can pinch him a few times to vent your anger. Sigh, my son has been spoiled by his grandmother since he was a child, and he is also a playful person. But don't worry, from now on I will never let him go out and fool around again. He will stay at home and treat his wife well."

While coaxing and persuading him, Zhou's mother also gave Zhou Chen a meaningful look.

Zhou Chen apologized to Hua's parents and assured them, "It's just that I've been away from the capital for a long time, and my friends invited me to go out when they learned I was back. But please rest assured, father and mother-in-law, I just had some drinks at the Drunken Spring Pavilion and did nothing else."

Hua's father glared at him, which startled Zhou Chen so much that he quickly lowered his head.

“Alright, the main reason we’re here today is for Ruyan. Before, our Hua family considered the bigger picture and made Ruyan a concubine. Now that Zhou Chen’s first wife is dead, shouldn’t Ruyan be promoted to the position of legal wife?” Father Hua said, glancing at Zhou’s parents.

When Mr. Zhou tried to speak, Mrs. Zhou stopped him.

Zhou's mother said somewhat guiltily, "That's how it should be, but a few days ago, my mother and I went to the temple to have our fortunes told. They said that the Zhou family needs to marry a woman born in the Year of the Horse in order to improve the family's fortunes."

Upon hearing this, Hua's parents and Hua Ruyan's expressions instantly changed.

Hua Ruyan was born in the Year of the Ox.

It seems the Zhou family doesn't intend for Hua Ruyan to become their legal wife!

"Well, as you all know, Zhou Chen lost his first wife at a young age, and the Zhou family's business has not been doing well in recent years, probably all because they haven't found a daughter-in-law born in the Year of the Horse. Because of this, my mother has been ill for quite some time, which is why she couldn't come out to see you two today. My mother doesn't want to hurt the harmony between our two families, but she also wants to find a safe way to maintain a balance."

After finishing her sentence, Zhou's mother looked at Hua Ruyan with earnest eyes: "I watched Ruyan grow up, and I really like her. But the fate of the family is not a game, so... so how about we wait until the main wife enters the family in two years and then elevate Ruyan to the status of a secondary wife?"

Hua's mother's heart was bleeding, and her gaze towards Zhou's mother was quite cold: "Two years later? When that mistress comes of age, you'll marry her? Wouldn't our Ruyan have to make a living under a young girl's thumb and have to live at her mercy?"

Mother Zhou smiled guiltily, "Don't worry, my dear in-law. I've already inquired. The girl only has a widowed mother, who is very gentle and easy to get along with. The Zhou family is only giving her the position of matriarch; we will definitely hand over the power to manage the household to Ruyan and will not let Ruyan live a bad life."

Mother Hua scoffed, "You're really something else. Your former daughter-in-law has only been dead for a few months, and you've already found a new one." Such a despicable family! They must have been blind to want Yue Rong to marry into their family!

Madam Hua glared at Hua Ruyan. If this daughter hadn't had an affair with Zhou Chen before marriage, why would the Hua family have agreed to let her become a concubine in the Zhou family? What a tragedy.

Hua Ruyan was shocked that the Zhou family had arranged things this way. She said angrily, "What divination slips and fortune telling? They're all nonsense. Mother, don't be fooled by the monks in that temple."

Mrs. Zhou frowned and said, "Ruyan, you can't just say things like that. Do you want to see our Zhou family's fortunes continue to decline? Your grandmother is still sick, so you can't let the old lady hear these nonsense."

Hua Ruyan was scolded by Zhou's mother and looked at her parents with some grievance.

What could Hua's parents say at this point? Their daughter had been at a disadvantage from the start, being manipulated by others!

Seeing that the Zhou family was tight-lipped and there was no hope of getting anything more for their daughter, the two left angrily, unable to persuade them to stay even when Zhou's mother invited them to stay for dinner.

Hua Ruyan got angry and threw a tantrum at Zhou Chen. The two had a big fight in the room, and Zhou Chen ended up with scratches all over his face from Hua Ruyan, so he went to the study.

Feeling sorry for her son, Zhou's mother brought some ointment to the study to see him after the two had finished arguing. While scolding Hua Ruyan, she introduced Zhou Chen to her new and suitable daughter-in-law.

"You have no idea, once this marriage goes through, we can become relatives with the Su family. That Lord Su is a fifth-rank official in the capital, a fifth-rank official! We can get him to help you get a position in the court, and our Zhou family will change our social standing!"

Zhou Chen only learned today that his elders planned to marry him off to another woman. He said, "But she's only thirteen years old, too young. Besides, I've never even met her. What if she's an ugly duckling?" Ever since he had Jing Yuwei and Gu Yuanyuan, Zhou Chen's standards have become more discerning, and he can't just look at any woman.

Zhou's mother glared at him: "When choosing a wife, one should choose a virtuous one. Only when choosing a concubine does one value appearance. Just listen to your mother. Would your mother ever harm you? Sigh, if I had married Hua Yuerong in the first place, I don't think I would have had all these troubles later. You don't know, when I heard that the Jing family was raided, your father, grandmother, and I couldn't sleep for days and nights, worried that you would be implicated."

Recalling those days of anxiety, both Zhou's mother and Zhou Chen fell silent.

"Now that the Jing family has all seen a ghost, you're still alive and well. From now on, you have to take every step carefully and not make any more mistakes."

Zhou Chen nodded silently after hearing his mother's words.

"Since you're back in the capital, let's find a day to go to the Su family to propose marriage and settle the matter as soon as possible."

Madam Su has been confined to her residence these past few days and has fallen ill, remaining bedridden for several days.

Su Xing asked the housekeeper to find a doctor for a consultation. The doctor prescribed medicine, and Su Xing personally supervised the brewing of the medicine before serving it to his mother.

"Mother, if I don't want to go out, I don't want to go out. I can just copy this one book for now. Why make yourself sick with anger?"

Madam Su forced down a bowl of medicine: "It's all because I'm incompetent that you have to suffer along with me. Now I only hope that you will get married soon, and then the Su family will no longer be able to control me."

Su Xing sighed inwardly, realizing that getting her marriage settled was probably harder than climbing to heaven.

Since she went to the banquet at Prince Yu's mansion with her second aunt last time, she has never been taken out of the mansion again. Her cousin has already attended three banquets at other families, and she has not been informed at all.

She gave a self-deprecating laugh and silently put away the medicine bowl.

At this moment, a maidservant came in, curtsied, and said, "Madam, Miss, Madam requests your presence in the front courtyard. The Zhou family has come to propose marriage."